---
product_id: 5049470
title: "Social and Cultural Anthropology: A Very Short Introduction"
price: "€ 20.08"
currency: EUR
in_stock: true
reviews_count: 13
url: https://www.desertcart.gr/products/5049470-social-and-cultural-anthropology-a-very-short-introduction
store_origin: GR
region: Greece
---

# Social and Cultural Anthropology: A Very Short Introduction

**Price:** € 20.08
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- **What is this?** Social and Cultural Anthropology: A Very Short Introduction
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- **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.gr](https://www.desertcart.gr/products/5049470-social-and-cultural-anthropology-a-very-short-introduction)

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## Description

"If you want to know what anthropology is , look at what anthropologists do ," write the authors of Social and Cultural Anthropology: A Very Short Introduction . This engaging overview of the field combines an accessible account of some of the discipline's guiding principles and methodology with abundant examples and illustrations of anthropologists at work. Peter Just and John Monaghan begin by discussing anthropology's most important contributions to modern thought: its investigation of culture as a distinctively human characteristic, its doctrine of cultural relativism, and its methodology of fieldwork and ethnography. Drawing on examples from their own fieldwork in Indonesia and Mesoamerica, they examine specific ways in which social and cultural anthropology have advanced our understanding of human society and culture. Including an assessment of anthropology's present position, and a look forward to its likely future, Social and Cultural Anthropology will make fascinating reading for anyone curious about this social science. About the Series: Combining authority with wit, accessibility, and style, Very Short Introductions offer an introduction to some of life's most interesting topics. Written by experts for the newcomer, they demonstrate the finest contemporary thinking about the central problems and issues in hundreds of key topics, from philosophy to Freud, quantum theory to Islam.

Review: A book of most special reading very seldom found in to day society. - I am very familiar with the study of medicine but I would argue that the topic ,in this book, is not usually a part of the teachings of especially, Biomedicine. It should thus be a requirement in the related curriculum as I am of the opinion that the application of the inherent science is, would be, beneficial to recipients of the care.The facts of the various types of differences in people are made very clear and obvious in the subject book. The enumerated differences that are addressed in the book are so intriguing and seemingly so a propos. It should behove all specialists to concentrate on these principles. The book is rare and special.It informs people in our society of matters of large importance when it comes to the delivery of care,in fact, most important matters which are not commonly known. it therefore makes the reading of this book a must. The readings are educational, and it is most important to acquire the respective knowledge, a requirement which this book magnificiently contains and offers. to be sure,I learnt a lot from it.
Review: using this for undergrads - After disheartening forays into text books and frustration at readers that are either too thematic or otherwise not quite right for a quick orientation in the discipline, I decided to check this out. This is about as perfect a scene-setter as I could ask for for either an intro course or any course that is likely to attract students who do not have an anthropological background. It's pocket-sized, it's affordable, it's readable, and it's SMART. It covers theoretical debates in a straight-forward and understandable way that shows why anyone should care about evolution vs. diffusion (to name one example). This little book as does about a good a job as any at showing how (and why) anthropologists and others use the word "post-modernity" (pg 69). The field examples are well chosen and engaging. The chapters are of a length and written in a style students are likely to read. Even better, the authors give enough tantalizing detail that I suspect it will inspire students to read MORE.

## Technical Specifications

| Specification | Value |
|---------------|-------|
| Best Sellers Rank | #192,832 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #50 in Anthropology (Books) #154 in General Anthropology #523 in Cultural Anthropology (Books) |
| Customer Reviews | 4.4 out of 5 stars 509 Reviews |

## Images

![Social and Cultural Anthropology: A Very Short Introduction - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81Nywgn7fuL.jpg)

## Customer Reviews

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ A book of most special reading very seldom found in to day society.
*by G***N on October 28, 2013*

I am very familiar with the study of medicine but I would argue that the topic ,in this book, is not usually a part of the teachings of especially, Biomedicine. It should thus be a requirement in the related curriculum as I am of the opinion that the application of the inherent science is, would be, beneficial to recipients of the care.The facts of the various types of differences in people are made very clear and obvious in the subject book. The enumerated differences that are addressed in the book are so intriguing and seemingly so a propos. It should behove all specialists to concentrate on these principles. The book is rare and special.It informs people in our society of matters of large importance when it comes to the delivery of care,in fact, most important matters which are not commonly known. it therefore makes the reading of this book a must. The readings are educational, and it is most important to acquire the respective knowledge, a requirement which this book magnificiently contains and offers. to be sure,I learnt a lot from it.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ using this for undergrads
*by H***I on December 12, 2006*

After disheartening forays into text books and frustration at readers that are either too thematic or otherwise not quite right for a quick orientation in the discipline, I decided to check this out. This is about as perfect a scene-setter as I could ask for for either an intro course or any course that is likely to attract students who do not have an anthropological background. It's pocket-sized, it's affordable, it's readable, and it's SMART. It covers theoretical debates in a straight-forward and understandable way that shows why anyone should care about evolution vs. diffusion (to name one example). This little book as does about a good a job as any at showing how (and why) anthropologists and others use the word "post-modernity" (pg 69). The field examples are well chosen and engaging. The chapters are of a length and written in a style students are likely to read. Even better, the authors give enough tantalizing detail that I suspect it will inspire students to read MORE.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Take another look - at ourselves
*by W***G on July 31, 2011*

As stated by both authors, this book is very short, so it serves to give the reader only a glimpse of what anthropologists do. They spend excruciatingly long time with the populations they want to study ("exotic societies", urban settings - like big corporations), be part of them, and try to observe in a way as objective as possible. Such prolonged observations are necessary to provide key insights into the working and psyche of the communities being studied. One chapter (Ch.3) is devoted on "culture". Various ways to define "culture" are propounded. By looking into various different cultures, it can be concluded that "each person is simultaneously like some other people, like all other people, and like no other person" (p.40). In the same chapter, the authors try to explain the concept of "Cultural Relativism". Unfortunately, they use a most objectionable example of female circumcision to illustrate their point (p. 51-52), which is erroreous particularly when we now know is a practice that, quite obviously, produces immense psychological trauma. The chapter (Ch.4) on marriage as the way societies regulate sex is informative and consistent with evoultionary psychology. The authors' interpretation of Genesis 38:8-10 is simultaneously amusing and insightful and particularly apt. Ch.5 is devoted on group identity (including non-kin groups, "ethnicity", and "race") and it provides food for thought to those who do not believe in "group selection" at all. The last three chapters are on economy (which includes the authors' short criticism on globilization), religion, and the concept of self-hood. How convincing these chapters are readers can decide themselves. In summary, a short interesting book, to be read with a tiny pinch of salt.

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*Last updated: 2026-07-14*